Battery charging warning light

Red battery with plus and minus signs Despite the picture, this light usually means the battery is not being charged, not that it is already flat. The cause can be the alternator, its drive belt, the battery itself or another part of the charging system. It is normal for it to glow briefly at startup and then go out. If it stays on with the engine running, the car is living on stored battery power, and that only lasts a short time before the engine can stall. Switch off what you do not need, such as the radio, climate control and rear defroster, and head straight to a shop rather than running errands. Get help at the first opportunity instead of waiting for it to clear.